Tag Archives: good cocktails in NYC

This time last year (January 8, 2010, to be exact), Ms. S&C wrote this blog post. It started with:

Ms. S&C has been busy, busy, busy getting ready for her biggest work event of the year. It is one of those all-consuming — yet somewhat exhilarating — work periods. I’m reminding myself about work things in the shower. I’m thinking about new ideas walking home from work. I’m working late. And working more means blogging less.

It closed with:

P.S. It is New York City I’m going to. Even for work, even when it’s cold, New York City is New York City, and it’s something to look forward to.

Um, so, this is *exactly* what Ms. S&C would write today, one year later. It is that time of year when things (meaning work-work things) take over.

But, because Ms. S&C is headed to New York City, and because she has the greatest friends on earth, she is reminded that she should take some time to enjoy herself. By doing what exactly? Trying a few new cocktails.

Proof that she has the greatest friends on earth? Proof that she is going to enjoy herself? She was sent this email today:

Hi! I know you must be prepping like crazy for your conference so I thought you’d appreciate this: Frank Bruni’s top 3 cocktails from last year, and where to get them. Seems like you will have earned one (or three) of these by the time you’re there this month. Let me know how they are if you get to try them. xo

Ms. S&C responded and cc’ed another friend, who lives in NYC, asking her friend if she will go to *one* of these places with her.

Her friend’s response:

Um, how do I even take that question seriously? Let’s meet at ma peche on Monday after work (it is right near my office), then we’ll go down to The John Dory for dinner after that. Tomorrow night we’ll have a night cap in the east village at Joe Doe (or maybe even eat there)?

If you’re interested in keeping up with Ms. S&C’s adventures, follow her on Twitter or join the S&C Facebook page. Things happen over there a little more regularly these days.

PS) History does repeat itself. Ms. S&C bought another pair of black flats for the occasion. And, fashionable flats are still hard to come by.

Ms. S&C likes to shop for a good cause — and drink for a good cause. And, you don’t have to twist her arm to get her to New York City to do so. When a good friend of hers announced she was co-chairing the first annual Food & Fotos event, to benefit Foundation Rwanda, Ms. S&C was thrilled to attend the event and support the cause.

A few facts:

Between April and June of 1994, an estimated 800,000 Rwandans were killed in the space of 100 days.

An estimated 20,000 children were born from rape during this genocide.

Due to the stigma associated with rape, these children and their mothers have been severely marginalized by their communities, live in extreme poverty and do not have the means to pay their children’s school fees.

Food & Fotos was an event to help sponsor secondary school education for these Rwandan children. And, it was outstanding. It featured tasting tables and signature dishes from 30 of New York City’s top restaurants, and there was an exhibition of portraits from Rwanda. A silent auction of culinary items and contemporary photographs was also held to raise funds. (In a last minute dash, Mr. and Ms. S&C snagged the “Taste of DC” item, so we get to look forward to a return trip to Restaurant Eve and visits to 1789 and Old Ebbitt Grill!)

Mr. S&C enjoyed the fine beers from Brooklyn Brewery, but Ms. S&C made tequila her drink of the night. 901 Silver Tequila was a sponsor of the event and offered several tasty cocktails. Yes, 901 is Justin Timberlake’s brand. (901 is the Memphis area code where he grew up, and is also representative of “the time of night when your evening is ending, but your night is just beginning,” says his spokesperson.)

The drink of the occasion? Tequila. The shoes? Polka dot peep-toes.
(sorry for the blurry pic, but it’s the only one I have of the shoes *and* dress)

The Valley Vista was my favorite cocktail of the night, even though a pesky bartender tried to steer me towards a less spicy, more fruity beverage. He thought I couldn’t handle the jalapeno, but Mr. S&C assured him that, despite my very colorful dress, I have a dark side. The La Senorita was an interesting cocktail. Wondering if the pineapple syrup was prepared with liquid smoke? It was a little like sucking on a wood chip (not necessarily a bad thing, particularly because the strong flavor makes it more of a sipping cocktail).

Ms. S&C has been busy, busy, busy getting ready for her biggest work event of the year. It is one of those all-consuming — yet somewhat exhilarating — work periods. I’m reminding myself about work things in the shower. I’m thinking about new ideas walking home from work. I’m working late. And working more means blogging less.

Ms. S&C has made time for a few other activities to help keep her sanity. Yes, there’s a weekly yoga class. But there’s, of course, the no-fail retail therapy. One recent purchase (100% work-related) included a new pair of flats. Plain black flats. Exciting shoes, right? They’ll compliment my black rolling suitcase nicely.

Except. I am excited. I think fashionable flats are so hard to come by (and I’m not the only one). These plain black flats from BCBGeneration, found over at Zappos, may be my favorite flats yet. The pointy style is dressy, the off-center rosette is whimsical, the short heel is comfortable. And they’re perfect shoes for my upcoming (work) occasion.P.S. It is New York City I’m going to. Even for work, even when it’s cold, New York City is New York City, and it’s something to look forward to.

Temple Bar was our next stop. This place was less intimate and a bit swankier than PDT, and probably geared to someone with deeper pockets than moi. But, I definitely appreciated the friendly service and being able to get a table, as we had three others join us. A good variety of cocktails on the menu. Here’s what I sampled:

44 North
I positively adore anything with pomegranate juice. I love the tartness. Unfortunately this drink tasted a bit chalky?Ingredients:
Served over ice in a highball glass

The Arbitrator
I, now, officially prefer gin as my spirit of choice.Ingredients:
Strained in served in a martini glass

Plymouth Gin

Sage

Peach Puree

Next, we swung by 124 Old Rabbit Club in Greenwich Village. This was my second favorite place of the night. It is very unassuming, dark (think basement), hip and cool, and to me, it has New York City written all over it. It is easy to miss, so look for the black door at the bottom of a few steps. I think there were mailbox-style letters at the top, but who knows what I saw at this point of the night. They only serve beer and wine, so I had an Orval. Correction: they only serve good beer and wine.

Photo of Old Rabbit Club by Carmen E. Lopez and AJ Wilheim, New York Magazine

I probably should have called it a night after the Old Rabbit Club. But, we hopped in a cab and soldiered on to The Back Room. I vaguely recall the bouncer out front and the longer-than-you-think-walk to the entrance. I do remember the place being gorgeous, with an old-school glamorous décor. Drinks are served in teacups, as a throw-back to the speakeasy-style environment. Word on the street is to try the place during the week, because it was c-r-o-w-d-e-d on Saturday night. I ordered a lame vodka tonic, which I hardly touched. It was time to head home.

It’s been a long time since I went to four bars in one night. But, when I was in New York City, over the Columbus Day weekend, I felt compelled to try some of New York Magazine’stop-rated bars. I also asked my good friend, Sesolf, for recommendations, and we embarked on the classic bar hop.

(Here’s part one of a two-part post on the night.)

First up, was PDT, or Please Don’t Tell, a speakeasy-style lounge in the East Village. PDT has everything you’d expect – intimate ambience, superb cocktails, and the obligatory secret entrance (you enter through a vintage phone booth located within Crif Dog, a hot dog joint). It was my favorite place of the night. Not only is the place quite civilized (see etiquette rules), the cocktails were inventive and down-right good.

Pearl ButtonReferred to on the menu as a “Caipirinha Collins,” and it was. Light and refreshing, it was the perfect cocktail to start the night.Ingredients:
Served over ice in a collins glass

Life doesn’t get much better when you can sleep in on a Sunday, then rouse to join friends for a leisurely and delicious brunch. But life does get better when you get to have said Sunday brunch on a gorgeous October day in New York City’s West Village.

I was this lucky duck this past Sunday. Having spent Saturday night tasting cocktails in the city (more to come about those), I was thrilled to meet friends the next day at Dell’Anima, a fantastic Italian restaurant. The name translates to “of the soul,” which is a perfect description for their hearty, elegant dishes. Dell’Anima serves brunch family-style, and now I think there is no other way. Together you can ooh and ahh over the Farro, retell funny stories from the night before while passing the French toast, and soak up the remaining precious moments of the weekend over that last cup of coffee. Its bliss, I tell you. Bliss.

About Shoes & Cocktails

The blog dedicated to shoes, cocktails, and things related was created by Ms. ShoesandCocktails, a Washington, DC area resident, who lives with her husband and dog, and is surrounded by friends with good taste and a weakness for cocktails. Ms. S&C would love to hear from you, so feel free to contact her at: shoesandcocktails(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Miss Mojito also joins Ms. S&C as a contributor. Miss M is from Richmond, VA, and lives and breathes for the delightful Cuban cocktail from which she borrows her name.